Digital Therapeutics & AI in Speech Language Therapy

Hello fellow SLPs!

Did you know: With the advancement of technology, digital therapeutics and artificial intelligence have become an important aspect of speech language therapy?

In this article, we will explore what digital therapeutics and artificial intelligence are and how they can support speech-language therapy, speech-language therapists, and speech-language clients.

Spoiler Alert: Digital Therapeutics and AI are set to be the ultimate SLP tools and resources.

Let’s get started!

What is Digital Therapeutics?

Digital therapeutics is an emerging field that utilizes technology and digital tools to deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions.

This can include the use of mobile apps, wearable devices, virtual reality (like Facebook/Meta’s Quest), and other digital technologies to enhance and improve the delivery of therapeutic services.

You can learn more by checking out the Digital Therapeutics Alliance their mission is to:

Broaden the understanding, adoption, and integration of clinically evaluated digital therapeutics with patients, clinicians, payors, policymakers through education, advocacy, and cross-industry collaboration.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a form of technology that enables machines to perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence.

This includes tasks such as recognizing patterns, making decisions, and solving problems. AI has the potential to revolutionize many industries, including speech language therapy. Don’t be afraid of this new technology, embrace it!

To learn more about AI in general check out this Artificial Intelligence 101.

ChatGPT and Speech Therapy

Oh, and you might have heard about OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the news recently; ChatGPT is a language tool that can generate human-like text based on the input it gets from people or files an example of the application of artificial intelligence in speech-language therapy.

As an SLP, you can use ChatGPT to create:

• customized speech therapy materials,
• automate repetitive tasks,
• even engage in therapy sessions with clients through virtual means

This can support you in making therapy more accessible, convenient, and even cost-effective (believe it or not), while also improving therapeutic outcomes and streamlining therapy processes.

So, think about using ChatGPT today for your speech language therapy work to enhance and improve the delivery of therapeutic services.

If you haven’t already played around with ChatGPT, please try ChatGPT, it will blow your mind.

Either way, here are example ChatGPT prompts for speech-language therapists.

How Digital Therapeutics and Artificial Intelligence Can Support Speech Language Therapy

• Enhancing Therapy Delivery: Digital therapeutics can make therapy more accessible, convenient, and cost-effective. With the use of mobile apps and wearable devices, individuals can receive therapy from the comfort of their own homes, reducing the need for in-person visits.
  
• Improving Therapeutic Outcomes: Digital therapeutics and AI can help to enhance therapeutic outcomes by providing real-time feedback and progress tracking. This can help speech language therapists to better understand the progress of their clients and make adjustments to their therapy plans accordingly.
  
• Streamlining Therapy Processes: AI can help to streamline therapy processes by automating repetitive tasks and reducing the workload for speech language therapists. This can free up time for therapists to focus on more complex and important tasks, such as client engagement and therapy planning.
  
• Personalizing Therapy: AI can be used to personalize therapy by analyzing data and identifying unique therapeutic needs for each individual client. This can help to ensure that each client receives the most effective therapy possible, tailored to their specific needs.

Conclusion: Digital Therapeutics and Artificial Intelligence in Speech Language Therapy

In conclusion, digital therapeutics and artificial intelligence have the potential to revolutionize speech-language therapy and support speech-language therapists, clients, and the field as a whole. With their ability to enhance therapy delivery, improve therapeutic outcomes, streamline therapy processes, and personalize therapy, digital therapeutics, and AI are shaping the future of speech-language therapy.